Ramos, Kevin Jorge L.

March 25, 2013

201011408 Physical Chemistry 2 Lecture

UREA ELECTROLYSIS: DIRECT HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM URINE

Jurgen Michael Honig and Ross Hoehn Journal Critique Title The title is gives a clear overview to the readers on what will be the study is all about and clearly stated what the main objective of the study is. It indicates the overall view of the study and the subject matter of the study which is the conversion of the urine and urea to pure hydrogen via electrochemical oxidation (electrolysis). It is brief, accurate and interesting to find out what is beyond on it. It also shows research approach and a clear and straightforward point.

Summary It is all about a new technology that has been developed that accomplishes the direct conversion of urine and urea to pure hydrogen via electrochemical oxidation with an inexpensive nickel catalyst.

Introduction The utilization of wastewater for useful fuel has been gathering recent attention due to societys need for alternative energy sources. The electrooxidation of urea found at high concentrations in wastewater simultaneously accomplishes fuel production and remediation of harmful nitrogen compounds that currently make their way into the atmosphere and groundwater. Pure hydrogen was collected in the cathode compartment at 1.4V cell potential, where water electrolysis does not occur appreciably. It was determined that an inexpensive nickel catalyst is the most active and stable for the process. Urine is the most abundant waste on Earth. Urines major constituent is urea, which incorporates four hydrogen atoms per molecule, importantly, less tightly bonded than the hydrogen atoms in water molecules. If this wastewater is left untreated and then discharged into rivers, creeks, and lakes, the urea will naturally hydrolyze into pollutants such as ammonia and nitrates.

Schematic representation of the direct urea to hydrogen process Anode reaction: CO(NH2)2 + 6OH- ----> N2 + 5H2O + CO2 + 6eCathode reaction: 6H2O + 6e- -----> 3H2 + 6OHOverall reaction: CO(NH2)2 + H2O -----> N2 + 3H2 + CO2

These reactions take place at room temperature and under normal pressure conditions.
Hydrogen gas produced from urea electrolysis does not require any further purification.

To break the molecule down a voltage of 0.37V needs to be applied across the cell- much less than the 1.23V needed to split the water into hydrogen

Urine's major constituent is urea, which incorporates four hydrogen atoms per molecule - importantly, less tightly bonded than the hydrogen atoms in water molecules. Botte used electrolysis to break the molecule apart, developing an inexpensive new nickel-based electrode to selectively and efficiently oxidise the urea. To break the molecule down, a voltage of 0.37V needs to be applied across the cell - much less than the 1.23V needed to split water.

Abstract The abstract is well constructed and catchy on the eyes of the readers. It helps the reader decide whether to read the entire journal/article. It summarizes the findings of the study. It gives the reader a clear indication of the importance of the research. It simply introduces the readers to the content of the journal/article. It uses essential words that give specification about the topic to be discussed. It begins by introducing the topic of the article and quickly addresses the research question being investigated. It detailed the methods used

to answer the question. It outlines the key results from the research to make a final statement to conclude. The ideas are connected with appropriate transitions. It indicates the thoroughness and integrity of the research. It is specific and clearly stated. It clearly presents the content and purpose of the study and only describes information that actually appears in the study. It is written in dynamic prose. It summarizes the thought of the article. For summary, it is complete, cohesive, self-contained, concise, non-evaluative and readable. Introduction The introduction gives the reader and enticing glimpse of what is to come. It concisely explains the purpose of the study and the study is investigating enough to be conduct as a research. It clearly stated the actual problem of the study which is how to enhance the management of the municipal wastes onto LGUs of Visayas Region. It gives rationale information that briefly explains the thought of the study. It gives background to the study in terms of some previous work that led to the study main problem. It set scope and limitation of the study. It clearly stated the potential importance and significance of the study. The introduction clearly states the broad theme and topic of the study/article. It provides convincing words why should anyone read the article or give a glimpse to study the journal/article. It summarizes the available literature and cites the most important previous studies that are relevant to the current research. It indicates the most important gaps, inconsistencies in the current study. It shows the core research problem, specific research objectives, context of the study and the units of analysis of the study. And lastly, it provides a coherent outline structure of the rest of the article.

Literature Review The literature review represents the theoretical core of an article. The article does not have a conceptual framework. I think it should be good if there is a conceptual framework to have a cohesive break down of concepts to be discussed in the study. Some literatures listed are relevant to the topic and to the concepts being investigated. It is directly related to the topic to be discussed. The review is comprehensive but not that much complete but the current and classis sources are included to the article. The literature review is majority compose of indispensable primary sources like government documents. The literature review is part of section development process and methods of the article which is a summary of the individual research publications or an integrated review that includes and objective analysis of the strength and weaknesses of studies. It is develop logically and produce and argument that justifies the come out of the study. Lastly, it summarizes the major key points on this part.

The literature review of the article is presented logical, synthesize and reader-friendly review of the current knowledge relating to a specific topic. It is a focused and synthesized discussion of relevant previous research findings. And this literature review does not merely summarize relevant previous research. It also provides background to and serves as motivation for the objectives and hypotheses of the research.

Methodology The methodology contains enough detail to enable the reader to evaluate the appropriateness of the methods and the reliability and validity of the research findings. The author did not address all the section of the methodology. The author just gives an overview of the methods that should be done on the research in a chronological order with the help of the concept reviews. I think for a research proposal it is merely appropriate design of method to have an overview of the research to be done. The testing for the objective is valid. The sample appear is representative of the population to be study. The author proposes ethical aspects of the study and the instrument/s will be use including their sustainability. The instrument use is not merely measure accurate with sufficient sensitivity. The researcher-developed trail procedure reported is done by having 3 groups which are the (a) environmental education and awareness group (b) LGU support and networking and (c) technology transfer and publicprivate partnership. There is no data collection procedure report but there is a detail outcome results. The data processing and management procedures reported but not that accurate. The data analysis procedures reported in merely sufficient detail, but there is no statistical treatment. The methodology explains the choices made are the most practical/feasible given the studys objectives. It merely describes the primarily steps followed in the execution of the study and also provides a brief justification for the research method used.

Results The result section is clearly stated and concise. There are no tabulated data presented. The data presented is sufficient enough, valid and reliable for a preliminary action. The author clearly describes the participants and their relevant characteristics. The author gives enough results that are related to the research main objective/hypothesis. The findings are consisted with the topic. The findings of the study is enough significant given to the level of significance and clinically stated.

The result section clearly summarizes the data collected in a form of descriptive statistics and also the results of relevant inferential statistical analysis conducted on the data. The findings are concisely stated and provide enough detail to properly justify the conclusions. The results stated the weak points also which is the regional SWM(Solid Waste Management) database for monitoring LGU has not yet been realized due to a wide array of available formats that needed harmonization in terms of ease of use while managing to pool sufficient data. The results are interpreted well in order to understand clear by the readers. Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation The discussion section clearly stated the significance of the study. It includes the contribution of the made by the study to the development of the knowledge in implementing regional ecology centers for networking sector development and solid waste management. It points out the strength and weaknesses that could be address in the future study. There is an enough comparison of findings with the previous findings defined in the review of literature. It simply generalizes the findings to the readers. The author discuss relevant implication for practice in order to become more successful the RECs. It simply restates the studys main purpose. Reaffirm the importance of the study by restating its main contributions. Summarize the results in relation to stated objective and purpose of the study. It also provides possible explanations for unexpected or non-significant findings. It highlights the main limitations of the study that could influence its internal and external validity. And also it discusses insightful directions or opportunities for future research on the topic. It broadens the implication of the studys findings and relating these back to previous researches. The conclusion gathered is logically from and substantiated by the evidence presented in the study. For the conclusion, the functionality of the RECs as portal fir public information, capacity building, knowledge management and joint learning had been demonstrated by enhanced interest from its target beneficiaries. The quality of REC services provided to LGUs may not be perfect as of the moment, but continuous buy-in of stakeholders provides further motivation for this multi- sectoral body, not only in creating synergies and linkages to support local SWM implementers, but to buffer any gaps created by frequent local political transitions as well. Through this conclusion, the weak points and strong points of the findings are clearly stated. The recommendation for the future conduction of this research is to a lot more beneficiaries to make RECs and SWMs.